Protecting Aluminum

[fattogatto]

I have just had several aluminum sheets soda blasted to clean up years of corrosion. Worked well. Is there anything I should do to protect the aluminum now?

 

[senlow]

It depends on what you plan to do with the aluminum.
A RoHS compliant chromate conversion will provide some corrosion resistance and will promote good paint adhesion.
Anodize will provide better corrosion resistance and a harder surface. Anodize is more costly than chromate.

 

[PWC Repair]

Wax it, oil it, or paint it with Flood Penetrol.

 

[nadogail]

Powdercoat

 

[Stuart in MN]

Are they just raw stock for future projects? Where are they stored, inside or outside? What is the climate like where you live - humid or dry?

 

[Bill T]

Sharkhide.... amazing product to protect aluminum. I have used on race cars for years to protect aluminum from oxidizing.

 

[dogdog]

anodize ?

otherwise I think aluminum or copper does not corrode like iron/steel does. Unless you leave it in a salt bath of something.

 

[fattogatto]

This is a formula car chassis. Possibly polish but that requires constant maintenance.

 

[gtae07]

Hmm.
Anodizing can be detrimental to fatigue life, and it may be hard to anodize something that large anyway.

Aerospace standard would be chromate conversion (alodine) then a corrosion inhibiting primer and epoxy topcoat.

I'm not really familiar with commercial products for protecting aluminum...

 

[Mike007]

Bumping this thread rather then post a new one. I'm putting together an aluminum dashboard for an offroad Jeep. I've sanded it to a smooth finish. Just touching it leaves finger prints. It's not a show car, but I think I need to do something to protect it. I don't want to polish it. I just want a dull aluminum finish. I've ruled out clear coat or powder coating. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a product. Maybe a wax? Someone mentioned Sharkhide. Seems like an ideal solution. It a little on the expensive side considering I'll likely never use it again.

 

[tinmanwpk]

I would get it anodized.